Photos: Dancers drum up excitement at AFN’s Quyana Alaska performances

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Minnie Mekiana dances with the Nagsragmiut Inland Eskimo Dancers, a dance group from Anaktuvuk Pass, on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2019 during Quyana at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

One of the hottest tickets in Fairbanks this week was Quyana Alaska, a celebration of Alaska Native dancing and drumming, which took place Thursday and Friday nights at the Carlson Center.

Sollie Hugo from Anaktuvuk Pass’s Nagsragmiut Inland Eskimo Dancers wowed the crowd Thursday night with his evocative and energetic performance, wearing at times a wolf costume and Golden Eagle feather headdress.

The Tanana Traditional Dancers, the largest group that performed at Quyana, nearly overflowed the stage Friday night with moosehide-clad children and elders.

Some of the loudest applause was reserved for the youngest children, including 7-year-old Charles Negovanna Jr. of Utqiagvik, who performed with the Tagiugmiut Dancers.

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